Help for Individuals

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In the aftermath of a disaster, it is SCEMD’s goal to help individuals and families return to normal and to facilitate the recovery of communities.  In coordination with local, state, and federal partners as well as non-governmental organizations and private businesses, we work to ensure that available resources for individuals and families are provided in a timely and efficient manner.

In small disasters that do not receive a federal disaster declaration, the state works with county officials and non-profit organizations to coordinate goods and services for affected individuals and families. In major disasters that receive a federal disaster declaration that includes  Individual Assistance (IA), SCEMD staff and the state’s Recovery Task Force work in collaboration with partners at all levels of government to coordinate recovery support. There is no set threshold of housing damage that must be met for a disaster declaration for Individual Assistance. However, availability of survivor assistance under a federal disaster declaration is based on the amount and severity of damage, frequency of disasters in the area, economic impact, socioeconomic data, and amount of damage covered by insurance. Federal financial assistance for survivors will only cover costs not covered by insurance.

Many agencies and organizations are able to assist those affected by disaster.  They include:

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - This is the federal agency primarily tasked with assisting after a disaster. The Individual and Households Program (IHP) provides financial assistance to eligible survivor households when is a federal disaster declaration that includes Individual Assistance (IA) for the county were the survivor lives. Assistance is not intended to address all needs of residents impacted by a disaster. The maximum IHP award during the federal fiscal year 2026 is $44,800 for Housing Assistance (HA) and $44,800 for Other Needs Assistance (ONA). The award amount is adjusted each year on October 1 based on the Consumer Price Index. IA financial payments are grants – not loans – and so do not have to be repaid.

Housing Assistance: Those displaced from their primary residence and are uninsured or under-insured may be eligible for assistance. This financial assistance can cover temporary housing, housing repair, and housing replacement, up to the max grant amount ($44,800). Most survivors receive far less than the max grant.

 Other Needs Assistance (ONA): This financial assistance is a direct payment to the eligible survivor household (up to the max grant of $44,800) and may be used for general household needs and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster. Most survivors receive far less than the max grant. ONA requires a 25 percent cost share from the state.

Disaster Legal Services: Low-income disaster survivors that have disaster-related legal needs including contractor issues, insurance claims, replacing legal documents, and landlord/tenant issues.  

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Unemployment and re-employment assistance is available to individuals who lost their job or business because of a federally declared disaster that includes IA.

Crisis Counseling Assistance: Individuals recovering from the disaster can receive assistance identifying and accessing mental health services.

Small Business Administration (SBA) - In federally declared disasters as well as in non-federally declared disasters that meet certain thresholds, the SBA can provide loans to individuals and businesses that have sustained disaster-related property or equipment damage, who have suffered a loss of income, or who need additional funding to cover operating expenses while working to reopen.

Home Physical Disaster Loans: Homeowners and renters may apply for this loan to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by a disaster.

Business Physical Disaster Loans: Businesses of any size may apply for this loan to repair or replace property owned by the business that was damaged by a disaster. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loans:  Small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and some non-profit organizations can apply for working capital loans to meet financial obligations after a declared disaster.

United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA) - The USDA FSA provides loans for agricultural producers for crop loss, livestock loss, or damage to farm property resulting from drought, flood, fire, freeze, tornadoes, pest infestation, and other emergencies.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - After a disaster, the IRS may provide tax relief, adjustments, filing deadline extensions, and refunds to help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster. 

Insurance
  • Property insurance is the prime means of paying for disaster damage and supporting recovery. Survivors should file an insurance claim immediately. The faster they file, the faster recovery can begin.
  • The South Carolina Department of Insurance provides a home preparedness checklist and other emergency planning resources at doi.sc.gov/847/Hurricane-Preparedness.
  • FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is allowing advance payments to policyholders on their flood insurance claims. When a policyholder contacts their insurer, the policyholder can receive an advance payment of up to $5,000 on a flood claim without an adjuster visit or additional documentation. 
  • The NFIP Support Call Center provides customer service to survivors, policy holders, adjusters, agents and the public regarding the NFIP (877-336-2627 or for direct policy info 800-638-6620).
Federal Assistance
  • Survivors who are unable to live in their home because of disaster damage, can visit DisasterAssistance.gov, or call 800-621-3362 (711 or Video Relay Service is available. Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for other languages). The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, seven days a week. General disaster assistance questions can also be emailed to AskIA@fema.dhs.gov.
  • Information about low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans and application forms is available online at SBA.gov/disaster. Survivors may also call 800-659-2955 from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
Repairs and Cleanup
  • The United Way Association of South Carolina manages the SC 211 resource database. 211 is a free, local, confidential, 24/7/365 service that connects residents anywhere in the state to essential support and information during times of non-emergency crisis and everyday needs.
  • Crisis Cleanup is a service that allows disaster survivors to sign-up for  help with debris cleanup and removal provided by voluntary organizations. Crisis Cleanup creates a database of homes in need of cleanup services after a disaster that nonprofit and voluntary organizations can access and direct services to. After a disaster, Crisis Cleanup will create a hotline that survivors can call to report their cleanup or debris removal needs.
  • To find a professional licensed contractor, visit the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation at llr.sc.gov and click “LICENSEE LOOKUP.”
Volunteer Organizations
 
 
Food Safety
 
Mental Health
  • The Disaster Distress Helpline is available 24 hours daily to provide counseling to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. Call or text 800-985-5990 (multilingual operators are available; press 2 for Spanish), For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider. visit DisasterDistress.samhsa.gov.

 

 

Financial and Legal
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) may become available through the South Carolina unemployment insurance benefits system. Visit the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce at dew.sc.gov and click MyBenefits Login in the top right corner to apply for unemployment insurance through the benefits system. For help, call 866-831-1724, Relay 711.
  • The application period for DUA ends 30 days after the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce announced the availability of DUA in the eligible county.
  • For those in counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance, the IRS deadline to file and pay taxes may be extended. For tax questions individuals can call 800-829-1040 from 7am to 7pm local time. For business-related tax questions call 800-829-4933 from 7am to 7pm local time.
  • Operation Hope has counselors available to provide financial recovery information. Call 888-388-4673.
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